MARQUETTE, MI— Independent candidate for the 38th state Senate seat Sara Cambensy says a challenge to the validity of her petition signatures is wrong.
A complaint filed July 23 with the Michigan Board of State Canvassers by Marquette resident Linda Donckers says Cambensy claimed to have 2,349 signatures for her candidacy. But Donckers asserted “after eliminating defective signatures, signatures on sheets with forged circulator names, and sheets signed by Cambensy as circulator which she did not in fact circulate,” there were actually far fewer than the required 1,500 valid signatures.
In a rebuttal to the Michigan Bureau of Elections dated July 30, Cambensy said, “My campaign counted 2,349 signatures, exceeding the 1,500 minimum by 848… The challenger claims that they found 268 invalid signatures. However, we counted and found the total number of invalid signatures the challenger reported to add up to 264—not 268. After reviewing each of those signature challenges, we maintain that 83 of those invalid signature claims should be considered valid.”
Some petition signers said Cambensy was not the circulator of the petition they signed. She says she was within 12 feet of the signers at the Third Base Bar in Marquette.
The complaint also claims the signatures of Cambensy’s campaign manager, Jason Chapman, were forged. He refuted that in an official response to the Board of State Canvassers, saying his signature varies according to his writing surface and angle, how quickly he’s signing his name, and if his hand is shaking.
Donckers’ complaint further states Chapman has had a longtime connection with the Michigan Democratic Party, and candidates without partisan affiliation cannot rely on partisan assistance. Cambensy says Donckers doesn’t provide any evidence for the claim from the Michigan Board of Canvassers Petition Manual Without Party Affiliation Manual.
A decision about the case is expected by the Board’s August 14 meeting.
Here is the complaint.
Here is Cambensy's rebuttal.
